Which Cosmetic Surgery Procedures Only Get Skin Deep?

The most shallow cosmetic surgery procedure might sound like an odd award to give out. After all, aesthetic plastic surgery is much more than a “shallow person” endeavor. It’s about how you feel about yourself--how you feel on the inside. It’s about much more than how you look to others, how you look on the outside. That’s why we’re being a little tongue-in-cheek here. When we say the most shallow cosmetic surgery procedure, we mean that literally.

What is the Most Shallow Cosmetic Surgery?

It’s not uncommon to hear aesthetic plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures referred to as “shallow.” Only shallow people will do that, they’ll say. You got a facelift? You must be very shallow–someone will say that, too. It’s all rubbish, of course. But it got us thinking about cosmetic surgery procedures that are shallow–literally.

Getting to Know the Most Shallow Cosmetic Surgery

What are some of those procedures that really only get skin deep because that’s what they’re designed to do? I know, I know, it’s a little tongue in cheek. But we thought it would present an excellent opportunity to highlight some procedures that don’t often get the spotlight.

Procedures such as breast augmentation and facelift–those big surgical procedures sometimes hog all the attention. In part, that’s because procedure that get under the surface are better able to create a wow-worthy transformation. Procedures that exist more on the surface level–those that don’t go beneath the surface–produce more subtle results. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, that’s kind of by design. So let’s take a look at some of the most shallow cosmetic surgery procedures–and why they might work to your benefit to keep things happening on the skin level.

Shallow Procedure #1: Peels

We could write a book on peels. There are so many different types of peels. It’s crazy. Okay, it’s not actually all that crazy. Each and every peel is tweaked or designed for some specific purpose or another. Human skin is variable, so too are the peel designed to replenish and rejuvenate that skin.

Peels essentially all work in the same way, though: they’re designed to “peel” away all of the crap on the outermost layer of your skin. Sometimes that means the dirt and grime that builds up over the years. Other times, peels are designed to target your own outermost layer of skin (often dead or dying skin).

This procedure works because your skin works in layers. It’s like an onion, only it doesn’t stink (often). By removing that outermost layer of cells and dirt, you reveal a younger, more energized-looking layer beneath that. It’s a great way to return some life to your skin, especially if you’re feeling as though your skin has lost a certain something over the years. In general, peels can be accomplished in one or two sessions, anywhere from 30-60 minutes. But redness might last for a few days, so you’ll want to give yourself some time to heal from that.

Shallow Procedure #2: Microneedling

On a certain level, microneedling works in the same basic way as peels do. But in another way, they’re completely different procedures. Microneedling can be highly targeted–and it’s usually performed with some sort of handheld device. One of the most popular such devices is called SkinPen. It treats the skin and looks like a pen. You can see where the name comes from.

SkinPen and microneedling both work by creating dozens or hundreds of incredibly tiny scrapes in the skin. Your body sensing an injury and releases all kinds of healing and growth factors. The only catch is that the damage to your skin is incredibly superficial. So all of those growth factors instead work to rejuvenate you. SkinPen can be used to treat all kinds of skin issues, including:

Lines and wrinkles

Age spots

Discoloration of the skin

Leathery texture to the skin

Other signs of aging

That said, SkinPen usually requires a couple of days for the redness to subside. And it could be a couple of weeks before you start to see the full results (that’s because SkinPen relies on your body to do the bulk of the work, and your body can work awful slowly).

Shallow Procedure #3: Laser Hair Removal

Shaving is, perhaps, the most common shallow cosmetic procedure that exists. It’s just that we shave ourselves (in many cases)–so we don’t think of it as a cosmetic procedure. But it is. Shaving also happens to be a giant pain in the rear end. That’s why we’re including Laser Hair Removal as a kind of honorary shallow procedure.

Because this procedure does operate, to some degree, beneath the skin. It targets the roots of the hair–and those roots are located beneath your outermost layer of skin. A laser hair removal procedure will help ensure that you never have to shave again (in all likelihood). And that means you can actually avoid one common, shallow procedure.

All of these procedures are quite different–so you’ll want to talk to your cosmetic surgeon before opting to undergo any of them. The most shallow cosmetic surgery procedures will only treat you skin deep–but that doesn’t mean you won’t love the outcome.